Podcast Summary: Johnathan Walton Media — "The Quarterback and the Con Artist"

Episode 6: Snoop Doggy Do
Release Date: October 8, 2025
Host: Johnathan Walton

Main Theme

In this gripping sixth episode, Johnathan Walton unpacks how former NFL quarterback Eric Kramer, still deeply compromised after his near-fatal suicide attempt, becomes the target of predation by an ex-girlfriend, Courtney Baird. The story unfolds through interviews with Eric’s family and friends, revealing how Courtney insinuates herself back into his life under the guise of caregiving, all while exploiting his vulnerable state for financial gain. Themes include the manipulation of vulnerable adults, the mechanics of financial abuse, and systemic failures in protecting victims.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Eric Kramer’s Vulnerable State (03:16–06:35)

• Memory Loss and Emotional Flatness: Eric reflects on having significant memory gaps and a flat range of emotions post-recovery:
  "There’s parts of those years where I remember nothing. There’s parts where I might remember, you know, 10 or 15% of a day. There’s so many missing parts." — Eric Kramer (03:16)

• Behavioral Changes Noticed by Family:

  • Eric attends his son Dylan’s football game but is oblivious to a key event (Dylan’s concussion), highlighting his cognitive disconnect (04:46).
  • Dylan notes, “He would just look at the TV… mindlessly and aimlessly. And that was something that he would never do before.” (05:26)
  • Dylan observes uncharacteristic passivity: Eric easily lends out his car, something he would never have done pre-injury (06:29).

Courtney Baird’s Re-Entry and Stalking (06:43–08:11)

• Unusual Presence:

  • Courtney appears at Eric’s house the day of his suicide attempt, despite not living nearby; Anna Durgan identifies this as stalking behavior (07:27).
  • Anna recalls, “I guarantee you she was stalking him.” — Anna Durgan (07:30)
  • Courtney had even checked LinkedIn profiles of women associated with Eric (07:30–07:45).

• Psychology of Con Artists:

  • The podcast notes that con artists often appear after a personal tragedy, offering help as a way in:
    “When there is a tragedy, con artists show up because they’re offering a solution… That is red flag number one of a professional con.” — Narrator/Investigator (08:25)

Family and Friends’ Distrust of Courtney (08:56–10:00)

• Longstanding Skepticism:
  • Friends and family never liked Courtney, believing she had an ulterior motive (gold digger) (09:05–09:39).
  • The tumultuous nature of her relationship with Eric (breaking up every 2–3 months) is cited as further evidence (09:42).

Courtney’s Aggressive Encroachment and Manipulation (10:06–16:40)

• Manipulating a Vulnerable Person:
  • Anna describes Eric post-attempt as easily suggestible, noting, “It was his basically plug and play. Like, you tell him what to do and he just does it.” (10:11)
  • Courtney intensifies contact: incessant texts, calls—even during Eric’s intensive rehab, she’s described as constantly interrupting his therapy (14:51–16:01).
  • Anna notes, “She literally did not stop texting or calling even while he was in Vegas… The administrator called and said, look, I don’t know who Eric’s talking to, but I think it’s some girl by the name of Courtney. And she’s interrupting his treatment.” (15:07)

Courtney Moves In and Seizes Control (18:12–19:18)

• Secret Return and “Moving In”:

  • Courtney flies to Las Vegas, picks Eric up, and brings him to Los Angeles, effectively moving herself and her daughter into Eric's home without informing family or friends (18:12–18:44).
  • Evidence appears quickly: Anna finds belongings, packed rooms—“Her daughter had a room already set up… with her personal stuff. I’m like, okay, we didn’t know about that.” — Anna Durgan (18:58)

• Disguising as Caregiver:

  • Courtney hosts dinners, ingratiates herself with Eric’s circle, and plays the role of doting partner while hiding ulterior motives.

Red Flags and Courtney’s Intentions Revealed (19:43–22:14)

• Out-of-character Reactions:

  • Dylan shares: after a serious car accident, instead of Eric being upset, he’s oddly nonreactive. Courtney advises Dylan:
    “Just tell him, he’ll be fine.” — She seems to know Eric’s state can be readily exploited (20:16–20:43).

• Direct Admission from Courtney’s Daughter:

  • “Eric’s gonna buy my mom, me and my mom, a house with a pool in it.” — Courtney's daughter (21:12)
    • Anna notes, “Something’s off here.” (21:33)

• Financial Red Flags:

  • Courtney claims to be on a leave of absence as caregiver—a violation of normal HR practice.
  • Anna spots a constant influx of Amazon packages addressed to Courtney, though she is not working (22:14).

Uncovering Financial Exploitation (24:15–27:34)

• Anna’s Forensic Investigation:
  • Anna repars a laptop with Eric's account info, logs in, and uncovers “ATM transactions every day, sometimes four or five hundred dollars a day” (25:05).
  • Courtney is seen shopping extravagantly, making large purchases, and discussing expensive elective procedures—all on Eric's dime (25:36).
  • Discovery of purchases of Visa gift cards—classic scammer currency, hard to trace and irreversible (26:54–27:08).

Courtney’s Criminal Past and Legal System Failure (27:34–29:02)

• Revealing a Rap Sheet:

  • Courtney was on probation for felony forgery for doctoring a prescription for drugs (27:43–28:17).
  • Anna was shocked to find, “All the payments that she was making for that restitution was coming out of Eric’s accounts.” (28:40)

• System Gaps in Probation & Protection:

  • The podcast details systemic failures: probation officers and the courts are generally unresponsive unless the perpetrator is convicted of a new crime, making victims easy prey for repeat offenders (29:02).

The “Checkmate”: Marriage as Legal Immunity (31:04–32:41)

• Detective Investigation:

  • Detective Dave Lynxite builds a strong case of financial abuse and criminal acts, expecting prosecution (31:10–31:30).

• Courtney Secretly Marries Eric:

  • In a final twist, Courtney secretly marries Eric, nullifying many legal consequences because, as a spouse, she gains legal standing over his life and finances (31:30–32:37).
    • “She actually marries Eric in a secret ceremony behind the backs of his friends and family, and the criminal case against her sort of goes away.” — Jonathan Walton (31:30)
    • Detective Chris German clarifies:
      “It would give her immunity from any type of criminal prosecution because they’re married. What’s his is hers.” (32:29–32:37)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Eric’s Mental State After the Injury:
  “So not only didn’t I remember, if I did remember, I wouldn’t care.” — Eric Kramer (03:58)
• On Family’s Initial Reaction to Courtney’s Return:
  “We would not think that anybody would be coming in here and trying to steal from him, that would just be cruel.” — Anna Durgan (02:41)
• On Anna’s Relentless Investigation:
  “I start investigating, going over every single line item… she’s buying gift cards. Boy, that is classic scammer currency.” — Anna Durgan/Narrator (26:37–27:04)
• On Systemic Failure to Protect Victims:
  “You would think, because she’s on probation… this is going to really count against her. But nobody seems to give a crap. The counties don’t speak to each other… So what does probation even mean? It means nothing.” — Anna Durgan/Narrator (28:57–29:02)
• On the Marriage Twist:
  “She actually marries Eric in a secret ceremony… the criminal case against her sort of goes away.” — Jonathan Walton (31:30) “It would give her immunity from any type of criminal prosecution because they’re married. What’s his is hers.” — Detective Chris German (32:29–32:37)
• On the Exploitation:
  “To take advantage of Eric’s state of being incapacitated… is sort of diabolical, to be honest.” — Anna Durgan (30:26)

Important Timestamps

• Eric’s Amnesia and Passivity: 03:16–06:35
• Courtney's Stalking Behavior: 06:43–08:11
• Friends and Family Express Doubts: 08:56–10:00
• Courtney’s Encroachment Intensifies: 10:06–16:40
• Courtney Moves In: 18:12–19:18
• Dylan’s Acknowledgment of Eric’s Personality Change: 19:43–20:44
• Courtney’s Daughter Reveals Motives: 21:12–21:33
• Anna Uncovers Financial Abuse: 24:15–27:34
• Courtney’s Criminal Record: 27:34–28:39
• Marriage as Legal Immunity Twist: 31:04–32:41

Conclusion

This episode exposes with clarity and empathy the devastating vulnerability of traumatic brain injury survivors to manipulative exploitation. Through firsthand accounts, financial forensics, and insights into criminal justice limitations, listeners gain a visceral sense of how cunning abusers operate — and how the system sometimes fails to protect. The episode ends with the bitter revelation that marriage can act as a legal shield for abusers, rendering even the best-prepared criminal case effectively moot.

If you or someone you know is struggling with depression or suicidal thoughts, call or text 988 to speak to a counselor for free.